Dupa primul meci de la UFC 181, Joe Rogan a anuntat ca CM Punk va lupta in octogon din 2015. Reactiile nu au intarziat sa apara, iar primele declaratii au venit chiar din partea lui CM Punk la conferinta de presa de la finalul PPV-ului. Pe langa scurtul interviu cu Joe Rogan, fostul wrestler din WWE a mai adaugat:
– Contractul cu UFC a fost finalizat pe 22 octombrie, ziua in care a devenit complet “liber” fata de WWE. Decizia de a semna cu UFC a fost una simpla. Anuntul trebuia sa fie facut la conferinta de presa de luna trecuta, insa la acel moment contractul nu era semnat;
– Punk va sta departe de Twitter si de mesajele negative ale fanilor de acum incolo;
– Urmeaza sa anunte cu cine se va antrena pentru debutul din 2015.
Presedintele UFC, Dana White, a oferit la randul lui o declaratie despre Punk:
El a vrut sa lupte aici. A vrut sa incerce, asa ca noi i-am oferit aceasta sansa. Nu este ca Brock Lesnar. Nu vom arunca in el cu tot ce avem. Lesnar avea un trecut in wrestling-ul amator. (CM Punk) va lupta cu persoane care au 1-0, 1-1, 2-1, ceva de genul asta. El vine sa lupte pentru mult timp. Dupa ce contractul lui cu WWE s-a incheiat, m-a sunat si mi-a spus ca vrea sa lupte in MMA, iar raspunsul meu a fost “Ok, iti vom oferi o sansa”.
Cativa luptatori din UFC, dar superstaruri din wrestling au reactionat pe Twitter dupa anuntul facut in timpul evenimentului.
WHA?!?!?! @CMPunk!!?!!!!?!! #cantwait
— Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) December 7, 2014
I see @cmpunk wants to kick ass, well he can kiss my ass! Welcome to the Ufc, let’s do this! @ufc @danawhite — michael (@bisping) December 7, 2014
— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) December 7, 2014
I am the proudest wife in the world. pic.twitter.com/N02RJzumQK — A.J. (@WWEAJLee) December 7, 2014
Awesome to see my homie Punk at UFC 181 announcing his new career as a UFC fighter! Congrats & wish… http://t.co/PdXNQHDccS
— Rey Mysterio (@reymysterio) December 7, 2014
Big respect to @CMPunk! Do whatever you want to do champ and give the critics something to talk about.
— Bobby Lashley (@fightbobby) December 7, 2014
FTR, I don't care if @CMPunk wins or loses in his debut. He's my friend and I'm proud of his courage. That's what "living" is all about!
— Gregory Shane Helms (@ShaneHelmsCom) December 7, 2014
Lots of @ufc fighters will be calling out Punk because Punk's going to sell PPV's and they want some of the $$. Plus, Punk's a rookie.
— Jim Ross (@JRsBBQ) December 7, 2014
Congrats on @CMPunk signing apparently w/ @ufc is he going to fight? What weight? Will sell PPV's w/o question. Smart biz by @danawhite
— Jim Ross (@JRsBBQ) December 7, 2014
FUCK! … Now I gotta learn how to hold one of those flags over an octagon.
— Colt Cabana (@ColtCabana) December 7, 2014
Got to respect @CMPunk for having the balls to do what he wants. Win or lose if he steps into the cage his a bigger man than most. #UFC
— Lance Storm (@LanceStorm) December 7, 2014
CM PUNK SHOCK THE WORLD BUBBA
— The Iron Sheik (@the_ironsheik) December 7, 2014
Oh my god it's CM Punk. He's in UFC. Not making this up.
— Dave Meltzer (@davemeltzerWON) December 7, 2014